Danish Krag

[avlane]

Not a US Krag, but recently acquired a nice Danish krag rifle, 8x58R. I have dies and a few cases with more coming. There is little load data available, and some is deemed by various sources to be unsafe. So far, I'm relying on 30-40 data. I've test fired a few loads with a moderate charge of IMR 4350 and 150 grain soft points (.323) and it seems to work. Anyone want to volunteer their load experience with this? I'll use at my own risk, of course.

Also, any info about importation of these would be appreciated. This one has no import stamp. Supposedly, the Germans took about 60,000 of these when they disarmed the Danish army. Those in the US may have come after war from captured German stocks. Interesting rifle, with its side opening gate and barrell sleeve. Still like my US Krags, though!

[andiarisaka]

There are 13 loads available at http://ammoguide.com. There is also much discussion at 8X58R Danish M89 Ammo Question - Gunboard's Forums (http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?t=16659). Some of loads on ammoguide seem warm for such an old rifle, but one fellow is shooting them in rolling block made in 1895, I think he's still alive. The ammoguide membership is low cost, well worth the money to me. Starting loads for the 8x57 at Hodgdon give the pressure and these loads would produce slightly less pressure in the higher capacity 8x58 case, good point to work up from. Sadly no 4350 loads with the 150gr bullet. Cartridge Loads - Hodgdon Reloading Data Center - data.hodgdon.com (http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp)

[avlane]

Thanks for the leads!

[Coastie]

Good luck with ammo.
Some decades ago I had found a couple of Danish Krags and searched for ammo. A source in Maine sent a box.
At the range recoil was great, bolt was hard to close. My "buddy" was encouraging me to shoot more.
When the primer popped out of the third round, I QUIT!
Formed from .45 basic, the rims were not properly sized or not cut at all.
Still got the Danes, can't afford the ammo.
Tell me more of your efforts, I may try again.
Thanks, Paul
Houston, Texas

[Jim K]

Unlike the US Krag, the Danish (and Norwegian) Krags have both lugs bearing, so they are a dual lug rifle (just not symetrical like the Mauser), and quite strong. You can go to a low-end 8mm Mauser load if you can find good cases.

Jim

[jon_norstog]

AV,

I thought about a Danish, was looking for one that had been butchered already, for elk hunting. The ballistics of the 8x58r are a little stronger than 8x57. Not bad!

More I think about it, I think a Norwegian is the way to go. Like the Danish it locks on the lug and the rib, and was made well into the 20th century with modern metallurgy.

They were mostly 6.5x55, but can feed any of the x57 rounds. A 7x57 for cross-canyon shots at mule deer, an 8x57 for elk and moose in timber. All you need is a pre-butchered rifle or an action, and a good gunsmith.

Actually, a Danish action might make up a pretty good 45-70. Or maybe a .33 Winchester. Load it up and let it bark.

jn

[Jim K]

The factory ballistics of the 8x58R make it a bit hotter than the 8x57JS, but in deference to the fact that it is an older rifle, I usually recommend the low end of 8x57 loads, which are still hotter than .30-40.

Jim

[avlane]

my cases came in from Buffalo Arms. I have 25 loaded for Saturday. Hornady 150 SP's with moderate IMR 4350 load. This one may not have barked for a long time. We'll see how she does.

[jon_norstog]

Hey, let us know!

Thanks,

jn

[avlane]

Took my 25 rounds and test fired the Dane Saturday at my club's 100 yard range. Lowest setting on the ladder sight prints 15" high at 100.

My loads were 48 grains of IMR 4350 and 50 grains of the same with a Hornady .323 150 grain soft point. I mention the load for info only with the ususal caveats: safe in my rifle, maybe not yours, use at your own risk, etc. Recoil was mild. No visible pressure signs, cases appeared very clean after firing.

I fired four 5 shot groups, two of each load. Three of the groups measured around three inches. The last group I fired with 48 grains measured 1.1 inches. A fluke? Don't have any idea. But I would say this old Dane has a lot of life left.

I'll load 25 more with 48 grains and fire them at my club's 200 (meter) range. I'll shoot this one at the club's military rifle match if I can solve the sighting issue. I was able to adjust windage on the front sight using an adjuster made for 1911 Swiss type rifles. The dove tail is too wide to allow substitution of the readily available higher Mauser front sights. I'll see where it prints at 200 and go from there. Suggestions on a front sight substitute are welcome.

On the load, I suspect that IMR 4831 may also work in this long barrelled Danish. But that will be for later. Enough discussion for now. The term "Danish" produces a Pavolovian hunger response that will bust my diet.

I'll post pics of this rifle if I can figure out how to do it.

[Patrick Chadwick]

How wide is too wide? Try comparing the dovetail with a Swedish Mauser. They seem to have dovetails a bit wider than the other Mausers. If that is not enough, I reckon you need a foresight for a

BTW, what hold are you using? 15" high at 100 is a bit much IMOH. That said on the basis of my Swiss G96/11, which is about 25 cm/10" high. You need to use a 6 o'clock hold, if you are not already doing so.

Patrick

[Patrick Chadwick]

Sorry, lost most of a sentence there. It should read "If that is not wide enough, then get a front sight for a Winchester or Marlin LAR and file it to fit"

Patrick

[avlane]

hold is six o'clock on an NRA high power SR1 target (aiming black is slightly over 6 inches). Lowest setting on rifle's ladder sight is 400 meters, so 15 to 18 inches high at a 100 yards is not unexpected. I notice that the dovetail on a Swiss 1911 sight is slightly wider than the Krag's, so there is some possibility there. But first back to the range to see where it prints at 200 meters. Thanks for the input.

[avlane]

Yesterday I fired 25 rounds from the bench at 200 yards (actually meters). I had to use a hold at the bottom of the paper on the SR target. After five sighters, the rifle put 17 shots in the ten ring and 3 in the nine. Not bad for an old Dane.